Ball painting machine



Oct' 2, 1951 s. M. BRIGGS ETAL 2,569,705

' BALL PAINTING MACHINE Filed June 15, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet l l INVENTORS 5 7 3 a J4 .STANLEY M. 5R/GGS 11 410 FREDERICK TDR/mou 39 CLOYD Q SNI/TH AffozA/f/ Oct. 2, 1951 u s. M. BRlGGs ETAL 2,569,705

BALL PAINTING MACHINE Filed June 15,A 1948 4 sheets-sheet 2 IN V EN TORS Oct. 2, 1951 S. M. BRIG'GS ET AL BALL PAINTING MACHINE Filed June 15, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 5. www www, mpsz/ WMI/D www Oct. 2, 1951 s. M. BRIGGS ErAL' 2,569,705

BALL PAINTING MACHINE Filed June l5, 1948 4 sheets-sheet 4 Y /4'2 @as 32 1 fd Z /426 INVENToR.

TA NL er M. Blf/66.5

Patented Oct. 2, 1951 `Stanley Briggs, `Pacific Palisades, Frederick T. Driscoll, Inglewood, andCloyd D. Smith, Santa.

Monica, Calif.

Application Juno 15, 1948i serial No. 33,104

(ci. :i1- 46) 8 Claims.

""liis invention relatesto ball painting 'nia-y chines. While the inventin; may beA used for lpainting haus of various typesii is particularly adapted for the repaiiitirig or. goi'f bans; fuso, the invention is particularly adapted fr embodiment in a coin-controlled machine that can be used bya golfer at a golf course.

A `prin-.ary obiot of our invention is to provide a coin controlled ball painting machine adapted to operate simultaneously upon one or several balls. u Another object is lto provide Va coin controlled ballmpainting machine embodying a plurality of ball painting lui'iits each selectively operative in response to theinsertion of a coin for that particular unit, but all operated by common actuating mechanism. A n further object of the invention is t provide a ball painting machine embodying means for picking up a ball that rhas begniseted into the machine, carrying 'the ball to apaint tank and dipping it therein, andthence carrying th ball past drying mechanism to a discharge point and discharging. it at the discharge point, in which the movement of the ball carryinginchaism. is S timed as to pvd a Ihamnn piid of xpsine to the drying mechanism `and a speeded up movement in the 4stages 0f th cycle Oi operation thereof. K i y Another object of the invention is to provide a ball painting achiiie havinga iair'lt tank that is covered to protect the paint therein against evaporation, in which the paint rank is u'novorooi for a ininimiiiii prtion' 6i the cycle of operation of tii machine. Another object is to provide a ball painting machine having a paint tank prov'iding a plurality f painting stations corresponding to a plurality of ball conveying units, t0- 'gethr with sectional cover mechanism for the paint tank and automatic @over opening 'mechafiisiii adapted to op-ena cover section only ai; the

station at which the ball carrying mechanism has been rendered operativo, leaving' the remainder of the iaiik covered. A further object of the iriv'sntion is to provide a bau painting machine erribodying ball co'iiveying mechanism which, in general, comprises one more arms adapted to swifig iii a Vgiierauiy eir'oumier'oniiai path about an axis f arcuate lvient, tgether with means for modifying the swinging movement by radial movement during a portion of the arc of swing. whereby toprovide 4for moving the ball into the paint tank along a path which permits the area of the open side of the tank to be maintained ata minimum, that is. at a smaller value than would lbe required if the movement were a n vpurely circumferential one.

A Qnefeature of the invention, directed `toward maximum emciency of utilization of the movement of a swinging arm, is the arrangement for moving the arm, not in a complete ircle, but in an arcuate swing through approximately a quarter of a circumference and a returnin the opposite direction to the starting point. This has the advantage not onlyof providing for greater efficiency of utilization of the movement of the ball carrying means in subjecting the ball to the several operations-of painting and drying, but also makes it possible to reduce the amount of equipment required and to concentrate the mechanism in a smaller space than is possible with a machine operating on the Vprinciple of movement through a full circular path. X A

A further object of the invention is to provide a ball painting machine having improved means for rotating the ball during the drying process vso as to prevent the formation of al tear thereon,

in Which the rotation takes place While the ball carrying means is arrested at the drying station and in which the operation of th ball rotating means as well as the drying mechanism is automatically cut off by the movement of the ball carrying means away from the drying station.

A further object is to provide a multiple unit coin controlled ball painting machine having an individual drying unit for each painting station and having coin controllednmeans for energizing the dryingunits only at the stations that have been rendered operative by the insertion of a com.

Other objects will become apparent in the ensuing specications and appended drawings in which:

Fig. l is a transverse sectional View through a coin `operating golf ball painting machine embodying our invention.

Fig. 2 is an axial sectional view of one of the i ball conveying units;

y showing the ball carrying mechanism as it clears the pick up and return chutes; g

A Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 1 1 of Fig. 4;

. Fig; 8 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

' lamp 22, are directed upon theball I2.

Fig. l2 is a detail sectional view ofthercoi'n operated switch mechanism;

the pick-up station, has been moved upwardly and remains above the ball so that the ball may drop into the return chute |4 as it is released by the unit |I.

The apparatus is housed in a suitable casing (Fig. 1) having a front wall ,26,a top 21, a rear wall 28, side walls 29, a horizontal supporting platform 30, and a chute panel 3| inset into the front wall 26. The panel 3| is provided with receiving chutes |43, communicating with respective ball supports I3', and discharge chutes 85, which communicate with respective return chutes Y I4. Each of the ball supports I3 and return Fig. 13 is a wiring diagram of. the control mechanism;

Fig. 14 is a partial front view of the machine;

and

Fig. i5 is a detail sectional view of the drying Y circuit starting switch.

General features and cycle of operation As an example of one form in which the invention may be embodied, we have shown in the drawings a coin controlled golf ball painting machine in which one or more ball carrying units I I are adapted to swing arcuately back and forth between a starting station indicated at A in Fig. 1, and a dipping station indicated at G in Fig. 10. A complete cycle of movement of the arm A includes a rst half cycle in which the unitA I I moves downwardly from station A to station G and a return half cycle of Vmovement in which the unit moves upwardly from station G- back to station A. `In the initial half cycle Aof movement, the unit I| successively arrives at a pick up station B (Fig. 5) in which it picks up a golf ball I2 resting in a 'ball support I3; stations C and D (Fig. 6) where it moves aside the ball support I3 and a return chuteY |4 and clears the chute I4 for further downward movement; a station E, (Fig. 10) where the cover I5 of a paint tank I6 commences to rise; a station F, where the cover I5 is substantially fully raised; and the station G where Ythe cover`|5 has moved rearwardly out of the way of the unit Y I I and the latter has dipped the ball I2 into Vdrying station E (Fig. 11) where the cover. I5

is dropped back to the closed position. AAtthe station E, also, unit II is .rotated on its aXis'to Arotate the ball I2 while a blast of air (indicated Vat I8) from a nozzle I9 of avblower 20, and infraredl rays (indicated at 2|) from an. infra-red The unit I| remains at station E for an vextended period of vtime which will be Vreferred toV hereafter as vthe drying period. Subsequently, the unit Il moves back to a cut-olf station H where ittrips .-a. switchlever 23 to de-energize the blower 2U and drying 'lamp or lamps 22; and thence proceeds toa position, indicated at I in Fig. 11, in which it moves the return chute |4 upwardly out of the way and clears it to arrive at .the dis- At the discharge station B', the

the pick-up station B. However, theA ball support I3, instead of being below the ball as at loop the sleeve |46 is confined.

chutes I4 is yieldingly mounted for yielding pivotal movement on a pivot pin |44 (Fig. 9) which is suitably supported on the inner side of panel 3|, as by means of a pair of ears |45 between which the ball support or return chute is confined. .Any'suitable yielding means Vfor biasing the ball support or returnv chute,` as thefcase may be, to the normal intermediate positionpthereo'f shown in full lines in Fig. 1 may be employed.

Such means may, for example, comprisel a sleeve |46 of soft rubber or equivalent elastic material, bonded to the pin |44 and to a loop |41l on the end of the ball4 support orreturn'chutevin which Ball carri/mg` units Y Each ball carrying unit II, includes afshaft3`2` one end of which is secured ina bracket 33 which is freely journalled on an arm supporting shaft 34. Thfe shaft 34 extends from s ideg'lto side `of the machine, its ends being suitably journallei as in a bearing 35 secured to one side wall (Fig. 4) and in the casing of a gear reduction unit 36 (Figs. 1 and 3) which may be supported by means of a bracket 31 onthe other side wall 29and driven by an electric motor 25.`,v Referring now to Figs. Zand 3, eachbracket 33 is axially confined between a collar 38 secured to -thesupporting shaft 34 and a bevel gear 39Ylikewise secured to the shaft 34. They bevel gear 43|? transmits rotation to a bevel gear4|l .which is secured to one end of a tubulark shaft 4| that is rotatable on the shaft 32.r A second, `outer sleeve 42 (Fig. 2) is keyed (as by means cfa key 43 received in a key way 44 inv th'e sleeve 42) to the tubular shaft 4I so as tobe axially shiftable on the sleeve 4| while receiving rota-f tion therefrom. Secured to the outer end of the sleeve 42 areV a pair of arms 45 eachhavingiat its outer end a pointed, ball engaging 4claw 446. A ball I2 is adapted to be clutched between the claws 46 and the point 41 of a tubular tail stock 48 which is rotatably mounted on a spindle 49 projecting from the free end of the shaft 32. The claws 46 are positioned toengagethe ball I 2 at spaced points on either side ofthe axis of the tail stock 48 so as to be able to Vtransmit rotation to the ball from the sleeve ,42."The tail stock 48 has a free rotating fit on the spindle 49 so that itV may rotate with the ball.

mechanism whichV will later be described.; y The sleeve 4.2 is biased toward the shaft 34 by a coil;

1spring51l,disposed :withnua counterbore 5I iin ithe sleeve :42, lone @end fof zthe spring :acting against `a shoulder :52 .defining the inner extrem- .ity of fthe counterborell `and the zother l'end :of

the :spring acting against 'a washer :.53 which is .secured against .the end Yof 'theshaft Bft'by `a pair of nuts 54 threaded onto ra reduced threaded extension 55 .of the shaft T32. "ihespindle `il!) .may constitute can integral extension of 4thethreaded portion 55. 'The tail stock .43 `is retractable Ito laccommodate fthe retraction tof the .sleeve 142, and

"lis `yieldingly biased outwardly by Va *very llightcco'il spring "56 disposed Within its tubular bore an'd Lengaged :between the rend o'f the -fspindle danand a ball thrust bearing 51 which in turn fis engaged against 'the closed end `of. the tail stock 48.

Secured :to the -arins :'45 is a short `chute 58 which -guides the ball into the `returnchute "I5 in the `discharge operation. The chute '5'8 "is shaped and positioned to clear the ball support I5.

TThe inner lend of the sleeve 42 is Aprovidedwith a `cam following collar 5B, which lengages .one :or more cams @El during the progress of the unit II :between `stations A, B, and C and `between sta- `Ations Gand E. The collar 5S engages one vor more cams -II .during the movement `of the unit II'I .between stations F and The `cams 60 Aare suitably vsup-ported in 4.properly spaced relation so that `the tubular shaft stl may be vreceived between them. 'For example, a cam 5c may be secured to a block 62 which in turn `may be supported from a. bar 63 extending .between andsecured, as 'at `54 (Fig. 51), to the side walls 129 of `the casing. The cams 6I, Vof blade shape, may in a similar manner be secured in spaced :relationship to 'blocks 66 carried by a `bar .51 similarly supported at its ends on the side `wal1s`29.

Selective operating mechanism Each mounting bracket 33 forms 1part of .an L- .r

shaped arm 5S which has .an elbow portion 59 to which is linked, ,at 19, the .forked end of a connecting rod lI. The other end .of the connecting rod 1I is linked at .12, to the swinging end of an actuator arm 13. The actuator arm 13 is journalled on a Arock shaft 14 which in turn isjournalled in bearing brackets 1.5 supported vupon the bar 63, Each arm 13 forms one member of a dog .Clutch 16 (Fig. 8) the other member of which comprises a disk 11 which has a hub that isfkeyed as at 18 to the shaft 14. Each pair `of clutch members 1.3, 11 is confined in spaced relationship between members that are axially iixed. For example, one pair may 'be confined between a bearing and a collar 19 secured to the shaft 14,

while another pair may be coniined between a bearing 15 and a transmitting arm 88 on one end of the shaft it. Each pair of clutch members 13, 11 is yieldngly urged apart by a coil spring I BI interposed therebetween. The respective clutch members 13, 11 have a clutch recess |82 anda clutch tooth 63 respectively, the tooth i855 being adapted to mate with the recess I 82 to establish a drive from the clutch member 11 to the actuator arm 13.

The shaft 14 is adapted to be rotated, first in one direction and then in the other direction, by movement transmitted lto it through the arm 80 from a cam @I which is secured on a short stub shaft 82 constituting the driven shaft of a reduction gear unit 83. As shown in Fig. 4, the reduction gear unit 83 may be supported on a side wall 29 by means of a bracket 84. The reduction gear 83 is driven by an electric motor 85. A coil spring B6. one .end 0f which is attached to the swinging t Verating. iswinging movement oi a corresponding yarm 6'8,

b vendrof the transmitting-farm 8i=and theotherenfd of which `is attached vto the 'rear wall V28 xof the teasing, L-is :arranged under tension 'so as to exert :fa rpull against the :arm 80 .-yieldingly urgingfit towandarstarting `position which is shown in iFig. :1. .The .cam ,84 as it rotates will -nrst Imove `the ':arm :.80 rcounterclockwise, :stretching the 'spring fyand :will subsequently permit Ythe arm 8U to getultn :in `fthe clockwise 'direction 4to the starting :position under fthefpull of 4the spring `lielective operation-of the units H iscontrolled :through fafseriesfoffsolenoids 81 (Figs. erand 7i), one itor @each lof the :units I I Each solenoid '81, :suitably V`mounted `on -ther'ear wall 28 of the casrhas :an armature :B8 which is 'connected to one end of a lockiever 39. Each lever 189 fistul- -crurned at fupon a bracket 9| carried the ba-r `63, 1,(Fig. '11). I-Ih'e otheriend of yeachar'm -89 'is in :the .form of a fork which 'engages :against the router iside :of a corresponding clutch disk 11.

-En'ergizationbf asolenoid 81 will tran'smitmove- :ment through arcor-responding `lock lei/erred "to .the

oon-respondingclutch'disk 11 to move the latter into clutching engagement with its mating arm 13, whereby there will be transmitted to the corresponding ball carrying unit I"I a complete cycle nf movement as vher-'eirrbefore generally described. :Selective lenergization :of the solenoids 8'1"is controlled :by the operation .of coins 9"I inserted in the lseries `of fcoin slots 942 in `the panel 31I fand :actuating coin switches 23 (Fig. 11) Aas will be described tmor'e 'fully in `"detail hereinafter.

At'this point it may be'noted that in each cycle Aaf-operation of the'machin'e, the `cam 8| willrotate ithrough :one complete revolution, transmit- :ting afull `cycle fof movement to each of 'the ball carrying units `II that has been rendered operativebythe insertionof a coin in a `coin slot corre- Lspondin'g lto 'that 'and that the arms that have not been 'thug rendered operative.. will remain stationary fait :station A.

During the `cycle of operation of a ball carrying unit 11., the painttank I2 will be uncovered, n an area 'just sufiiciently wide for the dipping .foperatiom Eby fthe lifting of a cover section I5 lyingim'mediately beneath the unit I I that is op- Tfhis is yaccomplished by rearward transmitted to the corresponding cover section II 5through a light coilspring 93, one end of which is linked to the end of the arm S8 and the other end of which yis linked to the cover sectionV I5. The cover sections I5 are hinged at 9d.' The spring 93 is linked to the cover section i5 at a point spaced forwardly of the hinge 94 but fairly close thereto so that the cover I5 will be raised `quite rapidly when a pull is applied thereto bythe spring 93. The raising of the cover commences kwhen the unit II arrives at the station E, i. e. when the unit Il has completed about a thirdof its downward half-cycle of movement. In this respect, the .invention provides for maintaining the tank closed throughout a maior portionof the cycle of operation of the machine, reducing the time period in which the paint is exposed to the drying effect of atmosphere, to a minimum. To this end, the arm 68 when the unit II is at station A, extends downwardly and forwardly of a line between the shaft 34 and the trough'IB, and the spring hangs with some slack therein, as shown in Fig. 1`. The slack in 'the spring 93 is not taken up until the arm @Il has moved through dead center and passed to the rear thereof to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 10 (station E). At this point, the cover I5 coin- 7 mences to rise and is rapidly raised to the'upstanding position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 10, which it reaches as the arm II arrives at station I F, about two thirds of the way through the first half cycle of movement. In arriving at this position, the cover section has cleared the path of downward movement of the unit II, and as the unit |I moves on to station G, the cover section moves rearwardly out of its way to the positions shown in broken lines corresponding to the broken lines showing of unit II at station G. In this position, the outer end of the cover section I has engaged the cams 6I and has been stopped thereby and the spring 93 becomes stretched as the arm 68 moves upwardly to its uppermost position shown in broken lines in Fig. 10.

At the end of arm E8 is a toe 95 which engages behind the cover section I5 as the arm 68 swings downwardly and forwardly on the return half cycle, and pushes the cover section toward the closed position as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 11. Thus the cover section is closed at an earlier stage of operation than would occur if the spring` 93 were utilized for closing.

Control mechanism The control mechanism (Fig. 13) includes a series of the coin operated switches 23, one for each of the ball carrying units, a series of solenoids 81, a corresponding series of relays R for controlling the solenoids 81 and the main motor drive 85, and a plurality of relays R for controlling the motor that powers the rotation of units ||.v The control mechanism also includes a limit switch S for opening the main circuit and stopping the operation of the main drive motor 85 at the completion of a cycle of operation, a switch Z for initiating operation of the drying units and 22, and rotation of units I a limit switch S' for terminating the operation ofthe drying units 20 and 22 and the rotation of unit II and a push button switch S, biased to the closed position, for opening all circuits during the time that coins are being inserted in the coin slots 92.

The coin operated switches 23 function, first to initiate the operation of the machine, controlling energization -of motor 85,` and clutching of the actuating mechanisms of the ball carrying units (corresponding to switches 23 that are closed) to the shaft 1d. A secondary function of the coin controlled switches 23 is to time the operation of the switch S in terminating the drying operation.

As an illustrative embodiment of a switch arrangement capable of executing these functions, the switch 23 may comprise a switch lever 91 carrying contacts 98 and $39 adapted to engage yieldably mounted contacts |99 and IDI respectively. The switch lever 91 is pivoted at |02 to the switch casing (which may comprise an extension of thecoin receptacle 95 as shown) and has a tail memberIIJB projecting through an opening |04 in the receptacle 96, the tail |93 being positioned in the path of movement of the outer extremity of the corresponding ball carrying arm II. The end of switch arm 91 is disposed beneath the inner extremity of the coin chute S2, whereby a coin 9| travelling downwardly in the chute 92 will strike vis open) to the full line position of Fig. 12 in which the switch lever is arrested by engagement ,Of theV contacts 93, 99 with contacts |00, '|0I. In

CTI

this position, the coin 9|Y will be arrested by its engagement between the ends of the switch lever 91 and the opposite extremity of the discharge end of chute 92. This closing ofthe switch will function to energize a corresponding relay R and to thereby initiate operation of the machine as will be described more fully hereinafter.

As the ball carrying unit II brushes past the tail |03 on its downward trip, the lever 91 will be raised back to the normal position, but will continue to hold the coin 9| arrested. Upon contact of the lever 91 against the coin chute, the tail |03, which is suiiiciently resilient for the purpose, will yield downwardly to permit the unit Il to clear it.

As the unit II brushes past the tail |93 on its return trip upward, the switch lever 91 will be moved downwardly beyond its full line position to approximately the lower dotted line position shown in Fig. 12 (the resilient mountings of contacts |00 and II yielding downwardly) and the pass between the end of the switch lever and the opposed extremity of the coin chute will be thus widened suiciently to allow the coin 9| to drop into the receptacle 96 as indicated by arrow |95. With the weight of the coin removed from it, the lever 91 will move upwardly to its normal, switch opening position, as the result of the biasing action of, for example, a weight IGS on the tail |03. This openingl of switch 23 functions to condition the main circuit and drying circuit 'for opening by the limit switch S.

The limit switch S is spring biased toward closed position and is opened by the arm BIJ (or a part associated and moving therewith) when it is in the starting position shown in full lines in Fig. 10. The function of the switch S is to deenergize the entire electric system when a cycle of operation has been completed.

The switch S has as its function to stop the rotation of the ball carrying unit Il when the arms 45 are horizontally opposed and the chute 58 is extending downwardly. To this end, a cam |91 secured on the shaft 34 is positioned to engage the stem of a movable switch element |08 of switch S and depress the same to open the switch at exactly the right point in the rotation of the shaft 34 to accomplish this function. The switch S is spring urged to the closed position as indicated.

The switch S' and the contacts 99, |9I of switches 23 are arranged in parallel, both grounding the circuits that energize the drying apparatus and rotating motor. To deenergize this lpart of the system, the switches 23 and S' are opened successively, the opening of a switch 23 determining the general position of units I (just subsequent to leaving the drying station I-I) where deenergization takes place and the opening of switch S immediately following to terminate the circuit at the exact proper point to leave the ball carrying units II properly oriented as above stated.

Proceeding now with a detailed description of the circuit, power is brought from an' electric power source which is indicated at I'I I, through a conductor ||2 and switch S" to a conductor I3, from which branch power leads H4 and I|1 carry the live side of the circuit up to the initial energizing coil I I 8 of relays R' and up to switches Z, respectively.

The main starting relays R have their initial energizing coils II5 Iconnected through conductors IIS to contact |20 of coin operated switches 23. The switch levers 91 of coin switches 23 are `grounded at I2 I, whereby closing of a coin switch into tank |6in` a downwardly directioninstead of` a purely circumferential one, whereby the width of the open top of the tank may be considerably less than would be required to receive the ball moving in a circumferential path. This section of movement is provided for by the riding of follower flange 59 against cam 6l. Y,

Instead of moving thef unit II at. a constant rate, the invention provides for a more rapid rate of travel in the downward movement than in the return movement. Movement past the ballsupport I3 is relatively slow in order to facilitate pick up of the ball. Thereafter, a somewhat accelerated rate is provided for by the initial rising portion |51 of Cami-8|. This rate may be maintained until the unitA I I reaches its lower limit of movement, determined by high point |58 of the cam. Immediatelypreceding the high point |58, the rate of rise ofV cam portion |51 may be reduced so as to slowdown the movement of the ball as it enters the tank I6.V Following the high point |58, a falling portion |59 of the cam provides for a fairly Vrapid movement of the ball from station G back to the drying station E, where the follower Bl) m-eets a dwell portion |60 of cam 8|. Dwell portion |60 provides for maintaining the unit I I arrested at the drying station E for approximatelyv a full half ofthe entire movement of the cam 8|. Thus the` time period when the unit II is arrested at the drying station may be equal to the tim-e utilized for all of the movements of the unit II from station A to station G and back to station A.

Just prior to` arrival at station E, ngers |36 will momentarily close the switch Z for each of the operative ball carrying units. Corresponding secondary relays R will thus be closed by the momentary energizing of the main coils |34. As previously noted, the switches Z have remained open during the rst half cycle of operation when fingers |36 brushed downwardly past their levers |31. Closing of relays R establishes circuits through their holding coils |33, which circuits include conductor 434 and coin switches 23. Closing of relays R also establishes circuits through conductor I3I to infra-red lamps 22 and blower 20, thus starting the drying'operation, and to motor 25 which drives shaft 34, from which rotation is transmitted through bevel gears 39 and 40 to the respective shafts 32, rotating the ball carrying unit I I to inhibit the formation of tears on the balls, i. e., to spread the paint evenly over the surfaces of the balls. The drying operation is completed at the drying station E, and in due time a` falling section I6I of cam 46 will provide for return movement of follower 88 to itsV starting position,V and will cause ball carrying units IIYto resume their upward return movement along section |54 of path I1. During this stage of movement, coin `switches 23 will be |33 and thereby cause relay R to open and ter' minate further rotation of units II, simultaneously deenergizing infra-red lamps 22 and blower 20. It will now be apparent that opening of coin switches 23 determines the general timing of the drying mechanism cut-off (shortly after the ball carrying units II have left the drying stations E4 on the return trip) The position of ball supporti ing arm II at station H, where ball supporting arm I I engages coin switches 23'to initiate cutoff of the drying apparatus, is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1l.

The unitsII will then follow the section |54' of return path I1a, moving radially outwardly and upwardly, engaging and lifting the return chutesv I4 as lshown in Fig. `1l. This inclined approach to a return chute makes it possible to initially engage the chute nearer its free end than would be the case if the unit II were fully extended at the time of initial engagement. In the latter case, it would be necessary for the chute I4 to be longer. The circumferential portion' |53 of the return path I1a provides for speeding up the clearing of chute I4 and permitting it to drop back to its normal position which is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 11.

When the units II reach station B', they will commence to follow the outwardly inclined sec. tion |52' of return path I1a, which provides for movement of the claws 46 radially outwardly to a point where compression in springs 56 is completely released so as to release the clutching pressure against the balls and permit them to drop away from the arm. In the meantime,the ball supports I3 have been raised by engagement of the claws 46 against their undersides, and the balls are therefore disposed beneath the ball supports I3 and above the return chutes I4. As the balls drop away from the claws 46, short guide chutes 58 will guide them to the return chutes I4.- From chutes I4 the balls will roll into discharge chutes 65.

From the discharge station B', the units I I will return upwardly to the starting station A, whereupon the follower arm 80 will open limit switch S to terminate the cycle of operation by deenergizing holding coils |23 of primary relays R so as to stop motor and deenergize solenoids 81, permitting arms 13 to become unclutched from shaft 14. lThus the entire mechanism is reset for another cycle of operation initiated by dropping one or more coins into coin chutes 92. Y

During the last section |5I of the return movement, the ends of arms 45 clear the ball supports I4 and permit them to drop back to the normal position shown in Fig. 1. Y Y

The machine has the advantage of providing for selective operation of any member of ball painting units all operated in unison by common actuating mechanism, with independent control of the individual units through remotely controlled clutching mechanism.

We claim: Y

vv1. In a ball painting machine, a plurality of ball carrying units each comprising asupporting shaft and a sleeve rotatably mounted thereon, means carried by said shaft and sleeve respectively for clutching a ball to be painted, an axially slidably but nonrotatableV connection between said sleeve and shaft, a common shaft on which said supporting shafts are mounted for arcuate swinging` movement between raised startingpositions and lowered dipping positions, a paint reservoir positioned to receive" the ball in said 'dippingA position thereof; means `for rotating said common shaft, means including said supporting shaft for transmitting rotation from said common shaft to( the several sleeves, thereby t0 rotate theballs .l

carried by said units, to prevent theforination tions.

2. In a ball painting machine, a ball carrying unit comprising a nonrotating shaft and a tubular shaft rotatably mounted thereon, a ball clutching unit having a slidable drive connection with said tubular shaft, said ball clutching unit and non-rotating shalt including coacting ball clutching claws for engaging opposite sides of a ball, means for relatively moving said ball clutching means axially upon said tubular shaft in order to clutch and unclutch a ball, means for transmitting rotating movement to said tubular shalt for rotating said ball clutching means and the ball, and means for swinging said non-rotating shaft in order to move said ball carrying unit between a raised starting position and a lowered dipping position.

3. In a ball painting machine, a ball carrying unit including a nonrota-ing supporting shaft, a tubular shaft rotatably mounted thereon, claw mounting means carried by said tubular shaft and having an axially slidable driving connection therewith, said supporting shaft being provided with a ball engaging tail sock located on the axis thereof, a pair of spaced ball clutching claws carried by said mounting means in positions substantially diametrically opposed to said tail stock for engaging a ball against said tail stock, means for axially shifting said mounting means upon said tubular shaft so as to clutch and release a ball, and means for transmitting rotation to said tubular shaft whereby to rotate said mounting means and claws and thereby rotate the ball about the axis of said rail stock. 4. In a ball painting machine, a ball carrying unit including a supporting shaft, ball clutching means mounted on said shaft for sliding movement longitudinally of the shaft, means for swinging said shaft about an axis transverse to its own longitudinal axis from a raised starting position to a lowered dipping position and back to the starting position, and means for shifting said ball clutching means inwardly toward the axis of swinging movement as it approaches said dipping position, whereby the dipping movement will be a movement at an angle to a circumferential direction.

5. In a ball painting machine, ball clutching means, means on which said ball clutching means is supported for swinging movement about a generally horizontal axis from a raised starting position to a lowered dipping position and return, said ball clutching means including means providing for radial movement of the ball clutching means with reference to the axis of swinging movement, and means for projecting the ball clutching means radially away from said axis of swinging movement a-s it approaches the dipping position, thereby to produce a dipping movement that is at an angle to a circumferential direction.

6. In a ball painting machine, a casing having an inlet and an outlet, a ball support communieating with said inlet, a ball return chute communicating with said outlet and disposed below said support, said chute and support being each mounted for Vertical yielding movement on either side of normal neutral positions in which they are inclined downwardly and inwardly from said inlet and downwardly and outwardly to said outlet respectively, a ball carrying unit, means on said unit to grasp a ball, means for moving said unit downwardly past said support and return chute in a path in which said grasping means will successively reach positions to grasp a ball carried by said support, to then deflect said support and return chute downwardly until they are cleared by said unit, and then moving said unit upwardly past said return chute and support in a path in which said chute is deflected upwardly until it clears the unit and drops back to its neutral position so as to dispose the ball between said chute and support, and means to cause said grasping means to grasp a ball car-- ried by said support as the unit moves downward- 1y past the support, and to release the ball when the ball is disposed between the chu-.e and support during the return movement of the unit.

7. In a ball painting machine, a supporting shaft; ball clutching means carried by said shaft and including ball engaging claws spaced from each other longitudinally of said shaft; a ball support, a ball outlet, painting means and drying means; means to swing said supporting shaft arcuately about an axis transverse to its own axis, from a position registering with said support, to said painting means, then to said drying means and then io said outlet, and to eiect pickup of the ball at said support and discharge of the ball at said outlet, said last mentioned means including means for effecting movement of at least one of said ball engaging claws relatively longitudinally of said shaft toward another ball engaging claw `for grasping the ball and away from said other claw for releasing the ball.

8. A ball painting machine as defined in claim 7, wherein the last mentioned means includes means tor arresting the movement of the supporting shaft opposite the drying means, said machine further including means for effecting rotation of at least one of said ball engaging claws while the supporting shaft is thus arrested whereby to rotate the ball.

STANLEY M. BRIGGS. FREDERICK T. DRISCOLL. CLOYD D. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the lile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,012,816 Holt et a1. 1 Aug. .27, 1935 2,079,614 Holt et al. May 11, 1937 2,079,615 Holt et al. May 11, 1937 

